C-suite folks, mind your Mata Haris

Industrial espionage has been the preserve of fictional gentlemen who drink martinis, wear expensive suits and discover state secrets between bouts of recreational fornication. Jensen Huang may not fit the Ian Fleming-John le Carre bill. But in these times of Mick Herron's Slow Horses, Nvidia's leather-jacketed chief reportedly attracted the attention of one Alice Huang, a Singapore-based businesswoman, whom US intelligence - the same lot that sometimes believes Iran is on the brink of nuclear weapon capability, and sometimes believes that option has been obliterated - suspects of spying for China.

Nvidia, understandably, insists the interactions of the two consenting adults were ordinary business dealings, with no secrets exchanged. Beijing, understandably, denies espionage allegations. So far, we only have an NYT report to suspect that Huang was honey-trapped - or, darsaan-trapped. But the affair offers corporate execs a useful reminder: one need not be Bond or Smiley to be an intelligence target. Possessing info worth billions is an excellent substitute for possessing irresistible charm. The modern honey can skip seduction. A convivial dinner, flattering conversation or a casual question about next-gen chips can do what Aston Martins and having a rendezvous at Checkpoint Charlie once did. So, it doesn't hurt to just keep it in your GPU.